Wednesday, May 1, 2002

As organizations that represent thousands of Texans concerned about consumer, worker, women's and civil rights, we are writing to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. As was made clear when the Senate Judiciary Committee held a complete hearing and rejected the nomination last year, Justice Owen's record demonstrates that she is an activist judge whose opinions not only stray far beyond the American mainstream but also are often far to the right of the conservative majority of her own court.

Texas Ad Hoc Coalition on Judicial Nominations letter to the Senate

May 1, 2002

RE: Oppose confirmation of Priscilla Owen

Dear Senator:

As organizations that represent thousands of Texans concerned about consumer, worker, women's and civil rights, we are writing to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. As was made clear when the Senate Judiciary Committee held a complete hearing and rejected the nomination last year, Justice Owen's record demonstrates that she is an activist judge whose opinions not only stray far beyond the American mainstream but also are often far to the right of the conservative majority of her own court.

Despite the efforts by Senator Hatch to recast Owen’s record at a second Judiciary Committee hearing this March, it remains sharply clear to those of us who have closely followed her judicial career that her opinions reveal a troubling hostility towards employee rights, discrimination protections, reproductive rights, public information rights, environmental protection, and consumer and citizen rights, often producing criticism by the majority of her fellow justices.

We continue to believe that there are many mainstream Texas judges who are well qualified to fill this position, including several Republicans appointed to the Texas bench by President Bush when he was Governor. We encourage you to withhold your support for judicial nominees who do not reflect mainstream American values. The Senate Judiciary Committee was correct to reject Owen’s nomination last year, and we urge you to support all efforts, including a filibuster if necessary, to reject her nomination on the Senate floor.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the Texas Ad Hoc Coalition on Judicial Nominees

Sarah J. WheatCraig McDonaldTexas Abortion and ReproductiveTexans for Public JusticeRights Action League

American Association of University Women of TexasGray Panthers of TexasGreater Dallas Coalition for Reproductive FreedomMexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)National Council of Jewish Women, TexasNational Organization for Women, Texas ChapterPlanned Parenthood Association of Hidalgo CountyPlanned Parenthood Association of LubbockPlanned Parenthood of Cameron and Willacy CountiesPlanned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast TexasPlanned Parenthood of North TexasPlanned Parenthood of San Antonio & South Central TexasPlanned Parenthood of South TexasPlanned Parenthood of the Texas Capital RegionPlanned Parenthood of West TexasReligious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in TexasTexas Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (TARAL)Texas Association of Planned Parenthood AffiliatesTexas AFL-CIOTexas Civil Rights ProjectTexas Employment Lawyers AssociationTexas Freedom NetworkTexans for Public JusticeTexas State Conference of NAACP BranchesTexas WatchTexas Women's Political CaucusWomen's Health and Family Planning Association of TexasWomen's Issues Network-Dallas